FOXBORO, Mass. — Patriots defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth said he knew all week that he'd be playing Sunday against the Jets despite a back injury that kept him out of the previous two games.

Haynesworth started as a third-down rusher before working into a more permanent role on the interior of New England's four-man line. He recorded one quarterback hit while taking on a number of double-teams in the Patriots' 30-21 victory at Gillette Stadium.

Haynesworth briefly left the game in the second half due to a cramp, which he joked was likely due to the fact that he missed the last two games and was still getting into playing shape. He practiced on a limited basis Thursday and Friday but had missed five of the team's nine practices over the last three weeks.